The ICT implementation process in BSF schools- guidance for SMT in schools.

As part of the school's leadership team, you will know that BSF is bringing a major opportunity to make your school a centre of excellence for teaching and learning.
You will probably also be aware that ICT will play a key role in supporting and widening learning, and even if your school is in a later phase, now is the time to develop your vision for ICT.

Ramesys will be there to help you, and will be working to this time-scale:

• 12–18 months before your new ICT service goes live, Ramesys education consultants will help your school to review your ICT vision and long-term ICT development plan to ensure that the major investment in technology and services matches the school's long-term goals and reflects each school's specialisms and focus.

• 6–9 months before the ICT Managed service goes live, detailed decisions need to be made by the school around how you wish to translate your ICT vision to an actual service. This will focus on the future use of ICT in teaching, learning and support services, which equipment to retain, what to buy, and what training needs to be provided prior to the start of service . The school will also receive a customised ICT Implementation plan at the start of the implementation period, which will be further developed with the school during the implementation process. This will outline what needs to be done by each party at each stage of the process, the decisions to be made, and the expected outcomes. All of this will require time, but the Ramesys consultants will work with you to explain who needs to do what, and when.

When all the technology has been installed, but prior to the managed service going live, all members of the school community will need initial training so they can use the service from Day 1, as well as ongoing training programme that needs to be embedded in the school's CPD programme to ensure technology-supported learning opportunities are maximised. The training programme will be developed with the school at the early stages of the implementation programme and will be based on the school's individual ICT solution. A preliminary skills audit co-ordinated by Ramesys, will ensure that all members of staff will receive training appropriate to their needs and current skills and experience of using ICT.

As the managed service goes live, an agreement will be made under TUPE as to which ICT technical support staff will be transferred to Ramesys, but they will continue to be school based. Ramesys will also provide ongoing transformation consultancy and training to develop the services and help the school ensure that future ICT investment provides value for money and meets the needs of the curriculum and staff.

Ramesys and the Authority will work closely with the school, both during the implementation and throughout the operational stage, to ensure that all concerns regarding the service implementation provision are clearly and promptly addressed. Both Ramesys and the Authority will provide senior-level resources for regular progress and performance review meetings with the school, to supplement ‘on the ground' project managers, technical and educational consultants, and support staff. The Contract Managers from both parties will ensure the co-ordination of activities of all the stakeholders in the programme and will serve as the point of call for headteachers regarding any issues and concerns which cannot be resolved locally.